Spanish Court Orders $316 Million Penalty Against Roja Directa for Illegal Sports Streaming
The Commercial Court No. 2 of A Coruña has issued a landmark ruling against Roja Directa, a notorious website for illegal sports content, mandating that it must pay an unprecedented sum of 316 million euros to Grupo Mediapro for damages related to the piracy of football content. This compensation claim emerged from the unauthorized broadcasting of LaLiga matches, highlighting significant violations of intellectual property rights.
The ruling specifically targets Puerto 80 Projects, the entity behind Roja Directa, and its administrator Igor Seoane, who is deemed jointly liable for 158 million euros. The court's decision is the culmination of nearly a decade-long legal battle between Grupo Mediapro and the infringing parties, demonstrating a resolute effort to combat piracy in sports broadcasting.
Mediapro has underscored that the compensation reflects the economic value that Puerto 80 Projects should have paid for legitimate access to their broadcasting signal during the 2014-2015 LaLiga season. According to their statement, this ruling marks a significant milestone in their efforts to eliminate such illegal platforms from operating within Spain, establishing meaningful accountability for infringement of intellectual property rights.
Roja Directa provided Spanish users with illicit access to LaLiga and other sports content typically aired on pay television networks, operating under a model that offered free access to users while generating substantial revenue through advertising and redirecting traffic to betting websites. Reports indicated that Puerto 80 Projects amassed earnings exceeding 11 million euros in a single account due to these activities.
The ongoing legal situation has further intensified as Puerto 80 Projects' administrator faces criminal charges initiated by both Mediapro and LaLiga for repeated violations of intellectual property laws via Roja Directa. Prosecutors are advocating for a four-year prison sentence for Seoane, with Mediapro and LaLiga pushing for a more stringent six-year penalty.
Despite the court ruling, Puerto 80 Projects continues to operate illegally outside of Spain, drawing the ire of the audiovisual group, which emphasizes the need for further legal measures. Furthermore, the prosecution has suggested that the entity should have secured a bond of 4 million euros in anticipation of potential future liabilities, reflecting the substantial financial impact and ongoing legal implications stemming from these violations.
This case underscores the increasing urgency and importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the rapidly evolving digital landscape, where infringement can lead to substantial revenue losses for legitimate businesses. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against piracy and the need for robust enforcement mechanisms to safeguard the interests of content creators and distributors.
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